N. Korea omits 'Day of the Sun' reference in announcing founder's birthday events | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Wednesday announced an annual springtime festival marking late state founder Kim Il-sung's birthday in April but avoided calling the anniversary by its reverent name, the "Day of the Sun." The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival will be staged in Pyongyang to mark the 114th anniversary of the late state founder's birthday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, as part of celebrations for the founder's birthday on April 15. The birthdays of the founder and his son, late leader Kim Jong-il, are celebrated extravagantly in North Korea, with the founder's birthday glorified as the Day of the Sun. The Rodong Sinmun, the North Korean ruling party newspaper, had previously announced a flower festival for April as part of celebrations for the founder's birthday. This Korean Central News Agency file image shows the April Spring Friendship Art Festival in 2025 marking the 113rd anniversary of the birthday of founder Kim Il-sung. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea.

## Article Content
Facebook
X
More
Pinterest
Linked in
Tumblr
Reddit
Facebook Messenger
Copy URL
URL is copied.
OK
SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Wednesday announced an annual springtime festival marking late state founder Kim Il-sung's birthday in April but avoided calling the anniversary by its reverent name, the "Day of the Sun."
The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival will be staged in Pyongyang to mark the 114th anniversary of the late state founder's birthday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, as part of celebrations for the founder's birthday on April 15.
The birthdays of the founder and his son, late leader Kim Jong-il, are celebrated extravagantly in North Korea, with the founder's birthday glorified as the Day of the Sun.
Wednesday's KCNA report, however, did not use the reverent term and instead referred to the anniversary as "a joyous April holiday," as state media increasingly avoid the designation in an apparent effort to put the spotlight on the current leader, Kim Jong-un.
The KCNA said art troupes, dancers and performers from around the world will participate in the festival.
The Rodong Sinmun, the North Korean ruling party newspaper, had previously announced a flower festival for April as part of celebrations for the founder's birthday.
This Korean Central News Agency file image shows the April Spring Friendship Art Festival in 2025 marking the 113rd anniversary of the birthday of founder Kim Il-sung. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap)
pbr@yna.co.kr
(END)
Keywords
#NK founder
#birth anniversary
Articles with issue keywords
Most Liked
Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party'
'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director
Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms
(3rd LD) About 40,000 fans gather for BTS comeback concert in downtown Seoul
Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees
Most Saved
Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party'
Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms
'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director
Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees
Downtown Seoul to enter security lockdown for massive crowd at BTS concert
Most Viewed
All Categories
(4th LD) N. Korea's Kim officially recognizes S. Korea as 'most hostile' nation
(2nd LD) Gov't to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector
Qatari energy firm declares force majeure on LNG contracts with S. Korea, China, Italy, Belgium: reports
(LEAD) Gov't to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector
(LEAD) Trump says Iran has given U.S. 'very significant prize' related to oil, gas
Most Viewed More
Most Viewed Photos
N. Korea's Kim formally calls S. Korea 'most hostile' nation
N.K. leader meets new cabinet members, deputies
Art performance to mark 1st session of N. Korea's new parliament
Art performance to mark 1st session of N. Korea's new parliament
prev
N. Korea omits 'Day of the Sun' reference in announcing founder's birthday events
Next
N. Korea omits 'Day of the Sun' reference in announcing founder's birthday events

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Korea, China, Italy, Belgium: reports (LEAD) Gov't to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector (LEAD) Trump says Iran has given U.S. 'very significant prize' related to oil, gas Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos N.

### Areas for Consideration
- No Redistribution) (Yonhap) pbr@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #NK founder #birth anniversary Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms (3rd LD) About 40,000 fans gather for BTS comeback concert in downtown Seoul Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Most Saved Netflix, BTS to turn Seoul into world's 'biggest watch party' Four decades of Damien Hirst on display at MMCA, from shark to cherry blossoms 'BTS: The Return' captures brotherhood under 'heavy crown': director Korean Pavilion at Venice Biennale seeks comfort through art, with Han Kang's sculpture of blackened trees Downtown Seoul to enter security lockdown for massive crowd at BTS concert Most Viewed All Categories (4th LD) N.

### Implications
- OK SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Wednesday announced an annual springtime festival marking late state founder Kim Il-sung's birthday in April but avoided calling the anniversary by its reverent name, the "Day of the Sun." The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival will be staged in Pyongyang to mark the 114th anniversary of the late state founder's birthday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, as part of celebrations for the founder's birthday on April 15.
- The KCNA said art troupes, dancers and performers from around the world will participate in the festival.
- Korea, China, Italy, Belgium: reports (LEAD) Gov't to strictly enforce five-day vehicle rotation system for public sector (LEAD) Trump says Iran has given U.S. 'very significant prize' related to oil, gas Most Viewed More Most Viewed Photos N.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers korea, founder, birthday topics. Notable strengths include discussion of korea. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 528.